Response of community diversity and productivity to canopy gap disturbance in subtropical forests

•Canopy gap disturbance promoted productivity via species richness, stand density and tree DBH diversity.•Canopy gap disturbance shaped species richness and tree DBH diversity.•Canopy gap disturbance could increase the niche complementarity effect but could reduce the vegetation quantity effect.•Canopy gap disturbance modulated subtropical forest community diversity – productivity relationships.